Spencer MacLaine Gray
Pronouns: he/him
Research Mentor(s): Carol Persad
Research Mentor School/College/Department: Psychiatry-Neuropsychology / Medicine
Program:
Authors:
Session: Session 3: 11:00 am – 11: 50 am
Poster: 4
Abstract
Many of us spend a significant portion of our life behind the wheel and driving. With that being said, many new technological advancements that are currently, or will be, in the near future, available and implemented in many modern vehicles can be utilized to help recognize specific driving behaviors that indicate whether an individual is prone to developing cognitive difficulties or is in the initial stages of cognitive decline. This longitudinal study focuses on comparing naturalistic driving behaviors over the course of two years of up to 600 individuals classified into one of three study groups: healthy younger adults, older adults with mild cognitive impairment, or cognitively healthy older adults. As of now, the study is in its very early stages; thus, we lack conclusive results regarding specific driving behaviors; nevertheless, we expect to find a plethora of driving behaviors that do indicate early signs of cognitive decline. The implications of this study are vast and paramount. If we are able to identify cognitive decline in its very early stages, we might be able to help treat individuals sufficiently early to limit or completely eliminate the cognitive decline. Furthermore, knowledge of whether certain driving behaviors can differentiate individuals with and without cognitive impairment can aid in the future development of systems to recognize individuals at risk of cognitive decline.
